A column in the Financial Times makes an interesting argument for how Deutsche Bank could recover losses it incurred – have Pfizer buy Activis.
Deutsche Bank financed Icelandic billionaire Thor Bjorgolfsson’s acquisition of a majority stake in Actavis in 2007, but ended up getting hit hard after the bank collapse. While Deutsche Bank tried to buy the pharmaceutical company Ratiopharm to help recover these losses, their bid wasn’t high enough to close a deal.
Pfizer, on the other hand, is currently on the prowl for acquisitions – they also tried, and failed, to buy Ratiopharm, and also made a bid for Activis 18 months ago.
“The US pharmaceutical group still needs to buy a generic drug-maker. Deutsche still needs to address its loans. Actavis is available, so a deal makes perfect sense for all parties involved,” the column argues in part.
Whether and when Pfizer moves forward with another bid for Activis remains to be seen.